Reporting a Crime

Reporting a Crime or Getting Emergency Assistance

Criminal or suspicious acts and emergencies should be reported to the police immediately; in person, by telephone, or by using one of the emergency phones strategically located around campus.

The University of Mary Washington Police Department is located in Brent Hall. The Emergency Communications office, which dispatches for all University properties, is staffed 24 hours a day, year round, and is available to provide you information that you may need. The University’s Police Department handles all law enforcement calls for service as well as fire and emergency medical calls on the Fredericksburg Campus and will assist with calls from the Stafford Campus

The UMW Police Department encourages anyone who is the victim or witness to any crime to promptly and accurately report the incident to police when the victim elects to or is unable to make such a report. UMW Police will assist the reporting of crimes that occur off campus to the appropriate law enforcement agencies. Because police reports are public records under state law, the UMW Police Department cannot hold reports of crime in confidence.

The University of Mary Washington has a voluntary anonymous reporting system for notifying the UMW Police Department of any crimes which may occur on campus. This program is called “Silent Witness.”. All crimes reports through the Silent Witness system are included in the annual disclosure of crime statistics. It is accessible by the following website link- http://www.umw.edu/police/reporting-a-crime/silent-witness-form/

The information for reporting both ongoing and past crimes and all calls for assistance to the UMW Police Department is listed below.

The UMW Police Department maintains two telephone numbers:

For Police, Fire and Rescue emergency calls on the Fredericksburg Campus, dial “4444″. The University’s “4444″ system is similar to “911″ in other jurisdictions and dials directly into the UMW Police Communications Office for on campus police, fire or rescue emergencies. If you are unable to speak, stay on the line. The dispatcher will be able to ascertain your location. Otherwise, follow the dispatcher’s instructions.

For Police, Fire and Rescue emergency calls on the Stafford Campus, dial “911″. The “911″ call will place you in direct contact with the Stafford County Emergency Operations Center.

For police non-emergency matters on any University property, dial 540-654-1025.

How to report an emergency on the Fredericksburg Campus, the James Monroe Museum and Law Library, Brompton, or the Gari Melchers Estate and Studio/Belmont:

University phone-

POLICE:

Dial “4444“ from any on-campus telephone.

Give the location of the incident.

Describe what is happening or what you have observed.

Give a description of the suspect(s).

Give the suspects means and direction of travel.

Stay on the phone and answer any questions the dispatcher may have.

Stay on the phone until the dispatcher tells you to hang up.

RESCUE:

Dial “4444“ from any on campus telephone.

Give the nature of the injury or illness.

Give the location where the first aid unit is needed.

Answer any questions the dispatcher may have.

Stay on the phone until the dispatcher tells you to hang up.

FIRE:

Dial “4444“ from any on campus telephone.

Give the location of the fire or fire alarm.

Answer any questions the dispatcher may have.

Exit the building.

Non-campus phones, including Cell Phone-

The Police Department’s emergency phone number is 540-654-4444. This number may be dialed from off-campus landline and cell phones. You are encouraged to pre-program this number into your cell phone.

How to report an emergency on the Stafford Campus .

From any phone, including University phones and cell phones –

POLICE:

Dial “911″

Give the location of the incident.

Describe what is happening or what you have observed.

Give a description of the suspect(s).

Give the suspects means and direction of travel.

Stay on the phone and answer any questions the dispatcher may have.

Stay on the phone until the dispatcher tells you to hang up.

RESCUE:

Dial “911″

Give the nature of the injury or illness.

Give the location where the first aid unit is needed.

Answer any questions the dispatcher may have.

Stay on the phone until the dispatcher tells you to hang up.

FIRE:

Dial “911″

Give the location of the fire or fire alarm.

Answer any questions the dispatcher may have.

Exit the building.

Silent Witness

The Silent Witness program is a voluntary anonymous reporting system for notifying the UMW Police Department of any crimes which may occur on campus. This program enables an individual to report information in a completely confidential manner. Silent Witness is accessible at the following link-

The UMW Police Department utilizes the RAVE Guardian safety app to receive reports of crimes. RAVE Guardian is an app that UMW students, faculty and staff may install on their cell phones.

Once activated, the app provides the user one-touch connection to UMW police or 911, displays the user’s GPS location and enables a text or digital image to be sent. The user also can set a safety timer to share with a selected group of friends or family members within his or her virtual safety network. For instance, before walking alone at night, a student could set the timer in order for the student’s trip to be monitored by GPS, Hall said. The timer will alert friends, family or emergency officials if the clock expires before the student has reached his or her destination.

To download the RAVE Guardian app, go to the Apple Store (iPhone users) or Google Play (Android users).

Making a Safe & Secure Campus

Fredericksburg Campus:

Campus Emergency Telephone System

The University currently has over 180 emergency telephones strategically placed across campus in all student parking lots, building elevators, on the interior campus walkways, at the Battlegrounds Complex area, along College Ave, at the Jepson Alumni Executive Center, in all academic buildings on the Fredericksburg campus and in the parking areas and walkways of the Stafford campus. The exterior emergency telephones are mounted on posts with blue lights that are illuminated during the non-daylight hours.

To operate most of the emergency telephone stations, lift the receiver or depress the activation button until you hear a series of audible clicks. The automatic dialer is forwarding your call to the Police Communications Office located in Brent Hall. When your call is answered, please indicate your location and the nature of the emergency or assistance needed.

Building and Residence Hall Access and Security

Members of the Office of Residence Life staff and the Police Department have a close working relationship. An orientation session is held before each fall semester in August to acquaint new staff members with Police personnel and to review new and existing policies. Residence Life staff are given information on what may be expected in a given situation and what resources are available to them to resolve issues in the most efficient manner.

Regulations governing campus housing are administered through the Office of Residence Life. All guests entering the residence halls are required to register upon entry in the hall log book. The exterior doors of the residence halls are secured at all times unless a desk aide is on duty. Door alarms are posted on all other dorm exit doors and are monitored by the hall staff. Students and their guests are required to adhere to the regulations on building access to reduce the risk of compromising residence hall safety and security.

The administrative buildings at UMW are generally open to the public during business hours and for certain cultural or educational events. Academic buildings are open to access by the public for anyone having business with an academic department in that building or for certain cultural or educational events.

Campus Camera Monitoring System

The University currently has closed circuit cameras strategically placed across all three campuses. These cameras record daily activity. These cameras can also be remotely accessed by the UMW Emergency Communications System on the Fredericksburg campus.

Facility Safety

The UMW Police Department works closely with Facilities Services and the Office of Residence Life to maintain security in all University buildings. Security and safety hazards may be reported to the University Police at 540-654-1025.

The University’s employees in Facilities Services (540-654-1047,) Locksmith Shop (540-654-1643,) and Office of Emergency Management and Safety (540-654-2096) inspect campus facilities regularly, promptly making repairs affecting safety and security, and respond to reports of potential safety and security hazards, such as broken windows, doors and locks.

Lighting and Landscape

Parking lots, sidewalks, and all major walkways are lighted at night. The UMW Police personnel check these lights frequently. Any lights not functioning or operating improperly are reported to the police dispatcher and in turn to Facilities Services for repair. Any shrubbery or trees that are observed to be a security risk by creating dark spots, hiding places or obscuring overhead lighting are reported to the Grounds Department under Facilities Services for corrective action. If more practical, a priority work order is submitted to Facilities Services to make the necessary repairs during the next business day.

Personal Safety Tips

Safety and security doesn’t begin and end with the University Police. It takes the entire University community- students, faculty and staff to make our campus a safe and secure place to live, work, learn and sometimes play.

What can you do to help?

Trust your instincts. If a place or situations doesn’t feel right, leave.

Avoid working or studying alone in a building at night.

Avoid shortcuts and isolated areas when walking after dark.

Don’t leave your personal property lying around unattended.

Carry a whistle for alerting others in the event of an emergency.

Never prop exterior doors open.

Keep your residence hall room locked when leaving, even for “just a minute” and when sleeping.

Lock windows and close shades after dark.

Never attach your name and address to keys.

When traveling in your vehicle keep windows up and doors locked.

Engrave your valuables.

Report any suspicious or criminal activity to the police immediately.

If you have an ADA-identified disability which requires special equipment, be sure to identify yourself to the University’s administration so proper installation and maintenance of such equipment may be scheduled.